...Thomas Properties Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:TPGI), has announced that ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE:IO), a global provider of geophysical technology, services, and solutions for the oil and gas industry, has ... more

APARTMENTS: McCann Realty Partners has acquired the 324-unit Estancia at Shadowlake apartments at 2840 Shadowbriar. The complex was built in 2005 and will be managed by Pegasus Residential. The acquisition was funded in part by a Freddie Mac loan originated by Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital.

RETAIL: Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust has acquired Sawyer Heights Village in a joint venture with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust. The 107,626-square-foot center near Interstate 10 and Sawyer and anchored by Staples and PetSmart sold for about $35 million. The deal brings Inland Western's presence in the Houston market to more than 1.5 million square feet under management.

LAND: W.S. Edwards Family has purchased 14 acres at Texas 124 and FM 1941 in Winnie from the estate of Amandus Pearson. Claire Sinclar with Claire Sinclair Properties brokered the transaction.

LAND: L.W. Holdings has purchased 22.5 acres in Gleannloch Farms in Spring. The land is south of the proposed Grand Parkway between Champions Forest Drive and Gleannloch Forest Drive. Jeff Lokey of NewQuest Properties represented the buyer. Ron Dagley of the Betz Cos. represented the seller.

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INDUSTRIAL: Ace Manor Properties Management I has purchased a 7,000-square-foot building at 7744 FM 1960 East for a regional distribution center of XL Auto Parts. Mark and Patrick Wimberly of Houston Commercial Development represented the seller, Humble Paint & Decorating.

INDUSTRIAL: Nextel of Texas has renewed a 15,140-square-foot lease at 10718 Fallstone in the Sugar Land area and has renewed a 7,892-square-foot lease at 1291 N. Post Oak. Glynn Mireles and Jeff Everist of CB Richard Ellis represented Nextel. Steve Carter with Granite Properties represented the landlord at the Post Oak location, while Paul Magaziner represented the landlord at the Fallstone building.

CITYCENTRE: Midway Cos. is adding a second conference venue to its mixed-use development near Interstate 10 and Beltway 8 in partnership with Hotel Sorella/Valencia Group. Construction is under way on the 8,500-square-foot Hotel Sorella Meetings & Events Centre, with completion planned in August to coincide with the hotel's second anniversary. Houston-based Proem Design-Build is overseeing the build-out, and Los Angeles-based Jennifer Skaife is providing interior design services. The project includes the La Scala Ballroom, nearly 4,000 square feet, with seating for 300; four boardrooms; a 200-square-foot conference room; several pre-function areas - the largest approximately 1,300 square feet; and a partially open pantry kitchen. Bistro Alex's culinary team will oversee food and beverage for the venue.

FINANCING: HFF has arranged financing for 712 Main on behalf of an entity owned by Brookfield Real Estate Opportunity Fund. John Ahmed led the HFF team in securing the non-recourse loan through Capital One Bank. Built in 1929, the 35-story gothic/art deco-style building contains 794,186 square feet and is the Texas headquarters of JP Morgan Chase's southwest banking operations.

SERVICE KING: Service King has opened a 32,000-square-foot location at 5919 Westheimer. Service King redeveloped the long-vacated former Truluck's restaurant location on Westheimer for its offices and built the collision repair center behind it. It is the 10th Houston-area location opened for the collision repair company since 2009.

APARTMENTS: Allied Realty is targeting a summer 2012 opening for its first project in The Woodlands: The Retreat at The Woodlands, a 240-unit luxury apartment community at 4400 College Park Drive. The property is designed by Steinberg Design Collaborative and will be managed by Orion Real Estate Services, a division of Allied Realty. Financing and capital is being provided by JP Morgan Chase and a partnership between Allied Realty and De Anda Sandoval Group.

APARTMENTS: Transwestern announced that its Houston-area multifamily services group has completed six transactions totaling over 2,000 units in the last six months. Most recently, The Brazos, a 160-unit apartment community at 1440 Brazos Drive in Huntsville, was purchased by a local private investor. Transwestern represented a California-based seller.

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS: Andy and Christie Miller have opened a Christian Brothers Automotive franchise at 1515 W. FM 646 at Walker Road in League City. The 5,000-square-foot location includes nine service bays and an upscale lobby with leather couches, decorative lighting, artwork and hardwood floors. The Millers opened their first Christian Brothers location in February 2007 in Clear Lake. The automotive service and repair franchise operates in 14 states and has 81 locations plus 35 under development.

LEASING: The Finial Group has been selected to provide leasing for 1001 Texas- The Binz Building. Keith Bilski, Neil Martin and Ben Debayle will handle leasing of the 121,392-square-foot building.

APARTMENTS: Jones Lang LaSalle's Capital Markets has been hired to market Legends at Cinco Ranch in Houston for sale for Sterling Investco, a Dallas-based multifamily developer. The new 260-unit community is expected to fetch in excess of $40 million. The firm has also been hired to secure $8 million in construction financing for the project's second phase.

CITY VIEW LOFTS: Orion Real Estate Services has been selected to manage City View Lofts, a newly renovated historic property at 15 N. Chenevert, scheduled to open in August. The former Nabisco cookie factory has been converted into 57 loft-style units with original exposed brick and pipes, 14-to-30-foot barrel-vaulted ceilings, large factory windows and original maple floors. City View Lofts is two blocks from Minute Maid Park.